Sunday, August 02, 2015, 3:28 p.m.

Union County sheriff's office gets $20,000 donation

EL DORADO  The Union County sheriff’s office has received a $20,000 donation for respirators and masks that inmates could use during an evacuation caused by a gas leak.

Clean Harbors made the donation after a December chlorine gas release at its plant in El Dorado. No one was injured, but the incident led to the evacuation of hundreds of people, including inmates at the county jail.

Sheriff Mike McGough says the county had no equipment available for inmates and jail staff to use during the evacuation.

The El Dorado News-Times reported that the respirators will be available for sheriff’s office and jail staff and the masks will be available for inmates.

Officials say the vapor cloud that rose from the plant was caused by a reaction involving chlorinated swimming pool chemicals.